The Sonoma City Planning Commission on Oct. 16 discussed a package of code amendments intended to implement housing‑element programs, including updates required by recent state law.

Community Development Director Jennifer (last name not specified) told commissioners the changes will clarify definitions for transitional and supportive housing, revise the land use table to allow certain housing types where other residential uses are allowed, and add objective standards for some design and historic‑preservation processes. "Some of the changes that you'll see will just be to, like, the land use table," she said.

Staff emphasized several points:
- Single‑room occupancy and other types of compact, lower‑cost housing will be added as allowed housing types with objective standards. Staff noted these are typically treated as multifamily housing types rather than conversions of single‑family homes.
- Design standards (including objective criteria for multi‑family design) and the historic preservation code will be reviewed and clarified so they are enforceable and aligned with housing goals.
- Program 20: state law requires jurisdictions to allow certain developments by right when 20% or more of the units are restricted to lower‑income households. Staff identified three sites from prior housing‑element inventories that would receive such treatment: the Norbom House on West Napa Street (adjacent to Jack in the Box), a parcel behind Safeway (behind the bank and a coffee shop), and lots adjacent to Cogier Memory Care on Napa Road.

Jennifer said some items (for example, the inclusionary housing update tied to fee studies) were paused pending a separate update to the building permit fee schedule; staff expects to return with ordinances at the next meeting. She also said the city will review state code citations to ensure the draft ordinance references the correct Government Code sections for supportive/transitional housing and navigation centers.

Commissioners asked about historic‑resource inventories and the interplay between historic preservation and new CEQA provisions for infill housing. Staff said the city needs to complete a local inventory and align historic‑preservation standards so that infill housing review is objective and consistent with state law. A public commenter from the Sonoma Valley Collaborative urged allowing four‑story development along Broadway and Highway 12 in certain commercial corridors to accommodate increased housing capacity.

No final ordinances were adopted; staff said a consolidated ordinance (combining related code updates) will be presented at a subsequent hearing with specific code language and supporting materials.